Are we all in this together?

There’s a shared thrill when we play on corners and balconies. As I investigate LA, I search for that same spark...

Before that night, no one had ever asked me if I was from Portland. Believe it or not.

We were leaving The Echo, a venue in East LA that’s somewhat like Schubas or The Empty Bottle in Chicago. That is, big enough to attract impressive acts, but small enough to feel like a private concert.

Ducking the rain, we climbed into a shared cab. The front passenger was also leaving the show, and the first thing he said was, “Are you guys from Portland, too?”